Sanford Predicted "Public Humiliation," Asked Spiritual Adviser To Beg Wife For Help

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Less than a month before he traveled to Argentina to see his mistress, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford predicted in a letter to his spiritual adviser that "public humiliation" would follow revelations of his shattered marriage.

In a letter to Warren "Cubby" Culbertson, who at the time was running a series of religious counseling sessions for couples at the governor's mansion, the two-term Republican explained he was trying to head off a potential divorce from his wife, Jenny.

The message was obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request. Sanford's affair became public in June, when he confessed it after disappearing on a secret trip to Argentina. He had told his staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

"I simply beg for the chance to figure it ought (sic) privately, please beg her for just the first month after the kids get out of school and if I cant get this done then there will be plenty of time for public humiliation and showing the world I am the guy in the wrong," Sanford wrote.

The governor worked on the letter on his state computer May 20, several weeks before Jenny Sanford moved with their four sons to the family's coastal home.

Culbertson confirmed Thursday that he received the letter but did not comment further. Sanford's spokesman, Joel Sawyer, said its contents should not be any surprise because the governor has spoken extensively about his personal life, including in several hours of interviews with The Associated Press.

"It's a deeply personal letter and the governor has made no secret of the fact that he's working very hard to try to repair his marriage," Sawyer said.

The letter sheds light on the relationship between the governor and his wife in the five months between when she learned of his yearlong affair – from a letter to his mistress he had kept in his files – and the rest of the world found out.

Story continues below

advertisement

Sanford and his wife have said they are trying to reconcile and the governor intends to stay in office. They are traveling in Europe with their four sons – one of three trips they have taken together since the governor confessed his affair publicly. Sawyer said they are expected to return next week.

In the note to Culbertson, Sanford refers to a "present entanglement" in his life and says his wife "grows more and more frustrated with my heart not being right and says simply that I am not trying."

The governor does say he can feel his heart changing.

"The one part where my heart at this point is not where I wish it was is with Jenny. She is a great girl, great mom, great wife and best friend and I am committed to her in a commitment sense, but my heart is just not alive here as it ought to be," he writes.

"I told her the other day I want to run toward her – not for the boys, or to avoid repercussion, but because my heart was right. I have got to get his figured out and am committed to doing so. Keep praying for me on this one."

___

Associated Press Writer Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report.

Comments

[chayefsky]

What a guy! He kicks his wife in the teeth then asks her to pay the dental bill!

[ohmetoo]

He predicted the public humiliation?

No I think Jennie told him how it would come down, and for six months she told him and well then it happened!

[selma]

I saw this hilarious letter posted elsewhere in a local SC paper. apparently, Markie has been recycling his apologies.

******************
My wife and I received a letter from Gov. Mark Sanford that was a duplicate of the July 19 column you printed in the paper. I hope the postage for this mailing was not paid for by the taxpayers. (The letter only states that it was not printed at taxpayers' expense.)

If the money came from unspent campaign funds, we -- who attended two of his fundraisers and contributed to his campaigns -- would rather the governor have given the money to an agency that provides marriage counseling for those who cannot afford it.

Or better yet, he could have sent the money to the Child Abuse Prevention Association or Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse, which help wives and children who have experienced emotional and physical abuse from husbands and fathers. That would be a more fitting representation of Micah 6:8, which he quotes in his letter. That is more important than his apologies.

******

Beaufort

[medicinecat]

He "predicted public humiliation?". The guy must be psychic! All I can say is that he's in the wrong job when he posesses such powers of prediction. Why didn't he weigh in on some more important issues of our time? You think he could have spoken up and told us that there were no weapons of mass destruction. Maybe he could have given us a "heads-up" that an economic depression was coming! But no! It's always about him and his little problems!

[selma]

Weee...he'­s back. What would we do without you, Markie.

Funny...I am noticing a strong silence from his early defenders (Bonnie Fuller and co) who gushed about his love letters. Life is short, they said. Go Marry your lover, claimed Fuller. Posters were taken in so much by his romance letters and were living vicariously through them, I suppose. Then of course, Markie began believing that crap and tried to worm his way out by playing on the "i am so in love " angle, till of course, all the shenanigans about other women came forward. And his misuse of state money.and his vacations. Karma is a bitch people...t­ry romanticizing something that is so obviously wrong, and you land up being made a fool of.

[alysheba 3]

"I simply beg for the chance to figure it ought (sic) privately, please beg her for just the first month after the kids get out of school and if I cant get this done then there will be plenty of time for public humiliation and showing the world I am the guy in the wrong," Sanford wrote.

The governor worked on the letter on his state computer May 20, several weeks before Jenny Sanford moved with their four sons to the family's coastal home.
----------­----------­----------­----------­-----

And how long after this was written was it that he went to his mistress, returned to humiliation, and called his mistress his "soulmate"?

I admire the Gov. Sanford's wife for attempting to protect their children. I would also provide a warning. I forgave many affairs by my husband, believing that this was the Christian thing to do. And each time, after him swearing that it would never happen again and attempting (what sounds like) all the same steps to save the marriage, the affairs continued. Be very careful Ms. Sanford, next time it happens it will once again be with this, or another, soulmate, and he will once again believe he will never get caught . And of course, Mark's C Street brotherhood will help to protect and "guide" him.

[JDRNYC]

Another fine moment in the history of organized religion.

[Okieborn]

Who was the spiritual adviser. Rep. Coburn and Sen. Inhofe from Oklahoma !!

[medicinecat]

So, he hired a flunky to ask his wife's forgiveness. That's because a proud gaucho never begs.

[CARTERJ]

Welcome back, Mark. Oh , how we've missed you. The headlines just haven't been the same without you. We have been at a loss without your daily your self-analysis, your self-obsession, your monstrous ego, your lack of humility, and your complete self-centeredness. Hope you are enjoying the bordellos in Europe for those brief moments when you can get away from the wife and kids.

It seems that the people of South Carolina have swept this little scandal under the rug. They really deserve you as governor. Judging from the editorials in The State newspaper, the job of governor does not entail all that much.

Esquire needs to present you with the Lifetime Dubious Achievement Award. You really have worked for that, at least.

[StanNotFromCA]

If the Guv knew that public humiliation would follow people finding out about his piccadillos, then why did he continue to go down this path of self destruction. He'd gotten away with it up until the last visit to Argentina. People already knew and had said nothing. He had it made. I can't feel sorry for him on so many levels, even if I thought he was a good person. But, like a certain west coast celebrity felon, he'll still have people who want to hang out with him and find him fascinating.

[selma]

He predicted his public humiliation. Way to go Sanford on working hard to make your prediction come true.
At this point, I think maybe Cubby needs some therapy too. They both should get "help".

[WasteNJ]

"Cubby, help me out here and stall my wife out while I go get some action in Argentina.­."

--"Bless you, my son"

[dinglebe]

"The governor does say he can feel his heart changing. 'But unfortunately, he continued, my d*ck is still pointing toward Argentina.­''"

[naples4kids]

Why do the citizens and taxpayers allow their elected officials to host religious advisers who are "running a series of religious counseling sessions for couples at the governor's mansion"?

I guess there is no separation of church and state in South Carolina.

[follygirl]

You got that right. You could be a serial killer and still get elected in this state as long as you know the right bible quotes to spew. The people of SC will buy anything as long as it's wrapped in pretty religious paper. This is why we are one of the least progressive states in the union, and a perfect example why church and state should be separate.